3 questions to learn if your baby's gut is healthy.
by Sarah Klein, Health.com
If you’re not a mom, here’s something you might not know about birthing a baby. When you’re going about it the old-fashioned way—aka delivering vaginally—you just might poop while you’re pushing.
Yep, right there on the delivery table or in your bathtub or any other place you’ve elected to partake in the miracle of childbirth. In front of your doctor, doula, midwife, partner, family... and birth photography crew.
“A lot of patients may think, ‘Oh my gosh! I don’t want to!’” says Christine Greves, MD, an ob-gyn at Orlando Health Hospital, and really, who could blame them?
But ob-gyns swear that pooping during delivery is totally normal—and it might even be a good thing.
For starters, it means you get an A+ on the whole pushing thing. “When we tell a woman to push, they use all of their might and their entire pelvic floor to try to get the baby out,” Dr. Greves explains. “If there’s pooping involved, that’s just a sign you’re using the correct muscles.” She promises that any professional attending your birth is accustomed to this, and they'll usually wipe away any poop before you have time to realize and become mortified by what has happened.
Squeamish moms-to-be often inquire about getting an enema before labor to help them avoid any embarrassment. While pre-delivery enemas used to be more common, modern doctors and midwives don't usually recommend this, says Annette Fineberg, MD, an ob-gyn at Sutter Health in Davis, California.
Also, it’s not wise to avoid using your pelvic floor muscles during delivery in an attempt to avoid pooping. “Please use those muscles, so I know you can get that baby out safely!” Dr. Greves says. In fact, when the pros coach new moms on how to push, they’ll usually say something along the lines of “Push like you’re having a bowel movement,” Dr. Fineberg adds.
It’s obviously not something anyone really wants to do in front of another human being. But Dr. Fineberg offers one nugget of comfort if you do poop: “There’s only a finite amount. It’s going to stop—it’s not like you’re doing it the whole time!”... Read more on Health.com
Get the latest updates.
* excluding Alaska , Hawaii and interternational
Evivo, a live beneficial bacteria, is shipped 2-day delivery in an insulated cool-pack to maximize time spent at extreme temperatures. But don’t worry, Evivo will withstand a wide range of temperatures through the hottest and coldest seasons!
Orders placed after 11:30 am PST Wednesday through Sunday, ship the first business day the following week to ensure your Evivo does not sit in the carrier’s delivery truck or facility over the weekend. Overnight orders placed Monday through Thursday before 11:30 am PST ship the same day.
See our FAQs for more information about Orders, Shipping, & Evivo's Return Policy.
Fast. Free Shipping. Learn More.
Notify me when available